Octave-key mechanism for wood-wind instruments



March 13, 1928.

' A. LOOMIS OCTAVE KEY MECHANISM FOR WOOD WIND INSTRUMENTS Patented Mar. 13, 1928.

UNITED STATES ALLEN LOOMIS, OF ELKHART, INDIANA.

OCTAVE-KEY MECHANISM FOR WOOD-WIND INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed April 9,

This invention relates to musical instruments of the wood wind type, and particularly to the octave keys of such instruments and means for operating them. It is more particularly concerned with mechanisms of the type described and claimed in my prior Letters Patent, No. 1,585,295, granted May 18, 1926. Said prior patent illustrates an embodiment of the invention therein set to forth designed for use with saxophones; and

the illustration of the present invention contained herein is likewise designed for the saxophone. The class or model of saxophone here illustrated is the curved model soprano saxophone having a body tube and acurved mouth tube. However, this reference to a specific instrument and model is for illustration and not limitation of the invention.

In its main characteristics, the key mechanism herein illustrated is essentially similar to that shown in the prior patent above identified and contains some of the features of the mechanism therein illustrated. It embodies also new and distinguishing characteristics, in respect more particularly to the partor member of the mechanism which I call a. floating lever.

Referring to the drawings,-

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a saxophone showing so much of the assembled body tube and mouth tube of the instrument chosen for illustration herein, and of the octave key mechanism embodying this invention as is needed for explanation of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the floating lever element of the mechanism, represented as with its arms resolved into the same plane;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 33 of to Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Like reference characters designate the same parts wherever they occur in all the figures.

The numeral 5 represents the body tube =15 and 6 the mouth tube of the instrument, such tubes being connected together in any usual or suitable way, and together constituting the instrument body. The upper octave hole is located in the side of the mouth tube at the proper point, as determined by principles and requirements known to those skilled in the art, and it is closed by a stopper or cover 7 carried by a lever 8 mounted on a pivot pin 9 supportedby posts, one of which is shown at 10. A spring 11 is secured to the lever 8, by a screw 12, and presses on the 1926. Serial No. 100,794.

tube or body with tendency to close the cover or stopper 7. The lever 8 has an arm 8 extending to the side of the pivot opposite to the stopper 7 and carries a ring 13 surrounding the tube 6 near its junction with the tube This ring serves as an abutment for the floating lever, hereinafter referred to, and is made with dimensions adapting it to receive one arm of the floating lever between itself and the adjacent part of the tube 6.

The lower octave hole is provided in the side of the body tube 5 at a point determined in like manner, and is covered by a stopper or cover 14 carried by an arm 15 attached to a sleeve 16, which turns freely about a pivot rod 17, mounted in posts attached to thelbody tube, one of which posts is shown at 8.

An arm 19 is also mounted to turn about the pivot rod 17 and extends therefrom approximately parallel to the arm 15, and its end is bent and carried over toward the arm 15 so that it overlies and is adapted to bear on the cover 1 1. The arm 19 is connected by means of a sleeve 20 with another arm 21, which in turn is connected by a bridge rod 22 with a finger key located further down on the instrument body and adapted to be depressed by the performers finger in order to open or close one of the tone holes of the instrument. A spring is applied to such key, or to some of the parts connected to or acting on the key, with tendency to raise the key and depress the arm 19, exerting pressure through said arm on the stopper 1 1 toward the instrument body. I have not shown the key or the spring just referred to because they are, or may be, substantially like those shown in my prior applications above identified. It is sufficient for the present explanation that it be understood that the arm 19 normally exerts closing pressure on the stopper 1 1, and that such pressure may be relaxed by the operator in pressing upon a finger key.

A floating lever carrier is pivotally supported from the body of the instrument on a pivot rod 23 mounted in posts 24 and 25. This carrier comprises a sleeve 26, arms 27 and 28, secured to said sleeve and extending. in parallel and in the same direction therefrom, and a pivot rod or pin 29 mounted in said arms substantially parallel to the pivot rod 23. To the sleeve 26 is connected an arm 30 which is extended laterally and thence downward toward the foot of the instrument to provide a key 31, shown in Fig. 3, adapted to be pressed on by one of the digits of the player. A spring 32 is mounted in the post 25 and bears on a hook 33 projecting from sleeve 26, and tends constantly to depress the pivot rod 29 and raise the key 31.

A floating lever is mounted to turn on the pivot 29, and is made of a sleeve 8st and two arms 35 and 36. The arm 35 projects laterally from the sleeve 34- and is then bent toward the upper end of the instrument and extends longitudinally thereof, terminating in a linger 3'7, which is ar 'anged and adapted to enter between the mouth tube 6 and the abutment ring 13. The laterally extending part of the arm 35 is adapted to bear on the instrument body, and a buffer pad 38, ol cork or other suitable soft material, is applied to the body tube beneath the arm so as to receive the pressure thereol and deaden the noise of the arm in striking the body.

The other arm 36 of the floating lever is forked or slotted at its outer end to provide a guideway in which is received a sliding block 39. Such block is perforated centrally and is mounted on a pivot pin l0 which projects from the side of arm 15. The block engages the opposite guiding faces of the notch and arm 36. Those faces 01" the block which engage the arm are channeled and formed with "flanges 41 and 42. In assembling these parts in the relation here shown, the block is slipped or passed endwise on the pivot pin l0 and then the forks of the slotted arm are passed over the block so to embrace it, being located between the tanges ell and l2 and interlocking with the latter to prevent withdrawal. of the block from the pivot pin.

The floating lever arms 35 and 36 are set at such an angle to each other that, when the floating lever carrier is left free and pressed upon only by its spring 32, the arm i 35 will bear on the instrument body and the arm 36 will press the stopper 1d a ainst its seat on the rim of the octave hole. The reaction of the instrument body on the iloating lever thus cooperates with spring 32 in' tightly closing the lower octave hole. Fret erably, when the floating lever is in the position thus described, it is in contact with the abutment ring 13, although not exerting pressure enough thereon to unseat the cover 7 of the upper octave hole. In other words, when both octave hole covers are tightly closed, there is minimum backlash between the floating lever linger 3'7 and the abutment 13, in order to eliminate noise through the finger striking the abutment.

In depressing the finger key 31, the float- I lever pivot 29is raised, exerting lifting pressure both ai'msef the floating lever and tending to open both octave keys. But

the pressure exerted on the floating lever through arm 19 is stronger than'that exerted by the spring 11 ot' the upper octave ltey through abutment 13, being dcsignedly so and ell'ected by the character and positions or the springs used and the lengths of the lever arms through which they respectively act. Hence, the ell'ect of depressing key 31 alone is to open the upper octave hole. T hen ii the pressure of arm 19 is removed from the lower octave hole by de pressing the finger key with which said arm is coupled, while key 31 is held in depressed position, the spring ll, acting through arm 8 and abutment 18, depresses arm 35 of the floating lever and raises the arm 36 thereof, thereby opening the lower octave hole and at the same time closing the upper octave hole. 7

In this specification the terms raise, lift, and words of similar import, designate movement away from the instrument body, and the terms depress, lower, and words elf similar import, mean movement toward the instrument body; whatever the absolute direction of such movements may be with respect to the horizontal and ver tical.

The floating lever above described embodies the distinctions contained in the present invention from those disclosed in my prior applications before identified. Such floating lever combines an arm extending longitudinally at one side oi the pivot or fulcrum (the arm 35) with an arm extending laterally from the opposite side of the pivot (arm 36). Both these arms are separately secured to the same sleeve 34:, which terms the hub of the lever. The floating ever so constructed may be combined with a carrier, whether the specific carrier herein described, or one of different construction, and with the octave keys of instruments of different sizes and proportions and types, within the general and inclusive type of wood wind instruments. The arm 36 and associated slide block are the same in length and dimensions for all types and models of instruments using this octave key mechanism. The other parts of the floating lever, namely, the tube 34 and arm 35, are of standard tubing and bar stock, respectively, used in making such instruments, and-may be cut to any length. Thus floating levers of the same general design may be readily and cheaply produced with dimensions and proportions suited to all sizes and designs or" musical instruments using octave key mechanisms of this nature.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is;

, i. In an octave key mechanism out the character set forth, a floating lever consisting of asleeve, a laterally extending slotted arm secured to said sleeve, and a second arm force applying terminals at opposite sides of its axis and displaced from one another longitudinally of such axis; said lever be ing a fabricated structure composed of a tube or hub and arms secured on said hub side by side but projecting to opposite sides of the hub, and one of said arms being bent over and extended longitudinally of the hub.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my 20 signature.

ALLEN LOOMIS. 

